Patentable/Patents/US-9729775
US-9729775

Auto-focusing method and auto-focusing device

PublishedAugust 8, 2017
Assigneenot available in USPTO data we have
Inventorsnot available in USPTO data we have
Technical Abstract

An auto-focusing method for use in a device, includes: after performing a manual focusing on a target object through receiving a user operation on the target object in a viewfinder of the device, acquiring first spatial data of the target object; when detecting a change of contents of a view in the viewfinder, acquiring position variation data of the target object; acquiring second spatial data of the target object according to the first spatial data and the position variation data; and performing an auto-focusing on the target object according to the second spatial data.

Patent Claims
17 claims

Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.

Claim 1

Original Legal Text

1. An auto-focusing method for use in a device, comprising: after performing a manual focusing on a target object through receiving a user operation on the target object in a viewfinder of the device, acquiring first spatial data of the target object; when detecting a change of contents of a view in the viewfinder, acquiring position variation data of the target object; acquiring second spatial data of the target object according to the first spatial data and the position variation data; and performing an auto-focusing on the target object according to the second spatial data; wherein the acquiring of the first spatial data of the target object includes: calculating a first perpendicular distance from a focal point to an image sensor, wherein an image of the target object is formed on the image sensor when the manual focusing is finished; acquiring first spatial coordinates of a first position on the image sensor where the image of the target object is located according to the first perpendicular distance, with the focal point as an origin of a three-dimensional rectangular coordinate system; and calculating first space vector angles of a first vector between the focal point and the first position.

Plain English Translation

An autofocus method for a device begins after a user manually focuses on a target in the viewfinder. First, the method acquires spatial data of the target. If the viewfinder's view changes, it gets position variation data of the target. Second spatial data is then calculated using the initial spatial data and the positional changes. Finally, the device performs autofocus based on this second spatial data. The initial spatial data acquisition involves calculating the perpendicular distance from the focal point to the image sensor where the target's image is formed, acquiring 3D coordinates of the target's location on the image sensor relative to the focal point, and calculating the angles of the vector between the focal point and that location.

Claim 2

Original Legal Text

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the calculating of the first perpendicular distance from the focal point to the image sensor comprises: acquiring an image distance when the manual focusing is finished; and calculating a difference between the image distance and a fixed focal length as the first perpendicular distance from the focal point to the image sensor.

Plain English Translation

To calculate the perpendicular distance from the focal point to the image sensor (as described in the autofocus method), the method acquires the current image distance after manual focus. It then calculates the difference between this image distance and the camera's fixed focal length. This difference is used as the perpendicular distance.

Claim 3

Original Legal Text

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the acquiring of the first spatial coordinates of the first position on the image sensor comprises: with a center of the viewfinder as an origin of a rectangular plane coordinate system, acquiring first two-dimensional coordinates of the target object in the rectangular plane coordinate system, wherein the center of the viewfinder and the focal point are in a same normal direction; transforming the first two-dimensional coordinates according to a preset scale to acquire second two-dimensional coordinates of the image of the target object on the image sensor; and determining the first spatial coordinates of the first position on the image sensor according to the second two-dimensional coordinates and the first perpendicular distance, wherein an X-axis coordinate value in the first spatial coordinates is an X-axis coordinate value in the second two-dimensional coordinates, a Y-axis coordinate value in the first spatial coordinates is a Y-axis coordinate value in the second two-dimensional coordinates, and a Z-axis coordinate value in the first spatial coordinates is the first perpendicular distance.

Plain English Translation

To acquire the initial 3D coordinates of the target on the image sensor (as described in the autofocus method), the method first acquires the target's 2D coordinates within the viewfinder, using the viewfinder's center as the origin. These 2D coordinates are then scaled to match the image sensor's dimensions, resulting in new 2D coordinates representing the target's image position on the sensor. The 3D coordinates are then determined: the X and Y values are taken from the scaled 2D coordinates, and the Z value is the previously calculated perpendicular distance from the focal point to the image sensor.

Claim 4

Original Legal Text

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the acquiring of the position variation data when detecting the change of the contents of the view in the viewfinder comprises: judging whether the viewfinder moves according to acceleration data detected by an acceleration sensor; and when the viewfinder moves, acquiring one or more vector angles of space variation detected through a direction sensor, as the position variation data.

Plain English Translation

To acquire position variation data when the viewfinder's view changes (as described in the autofocus method), the method uses an acceleration sensor to determine if the viewfinder is moving. If movement is detected, a direction sensor captures the angular changes (vector angles) of the movement. These vector angles are then recorded as the position variation data.

Claim 5

Original Legal Text

5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the acquiring of the second spatial data of the target object according to the first spatial data and the position variation data comprises: calculating a first straight-line distance from the focal point to the first position according to the first spatial coordinates; calculating one or more second space vector angles according to one or more of the first space vector angles and one or more of the vector angles of space variation, the one or more second space vector angles being one or more space vector angles of a second vector between the focal point and a second position, and the second position being a position of the image of the target object on the image sensor after the auto-focusing; and calculating one or more second spatial coordinates of the second position according to the first straight-line distance and the one or more second space vector angles.

Plain English Translation

To determine the second spatial data of the target (as described in the autofocus method), the method calculates the straight-line distance from the focal point to the target's initial position on the image sensor using the initial 3D coordinates. Then, using the initial vector angles and the angular changes detected by the direction sensor, the method calculates new vector angles representing the direction from the focal point to the target's new position on the image sensor. Finally, it uses the initial straight-line distance and the new vector angles to calculate the new 3D coordinates of the target's image position.

Claim 6

Original Legal Text

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the performing of the auto-focusing on the target object according to the second spatial data comprises: acquiring a second perpendicular distance from the focal point to the second position according to the one or more second spatial coordinates, wherein the second perpendicular distance is a Z-axis coordinate value in the one or more second spatial coordinates; calculating a sum of the second perpendicular distance and a fixed focal length as an adjusted image distance; and moving a lens set until a distance from the lens set to the image sensor is equal to the adjusted image distance.

Plain English Translation

To perform autofocus based on the second spatial data (as described in the autofocus method), the method acquires the Z-axis coordinate from the new 3D coordinates, representing the perpendicular distance from the focal point to the new target position. It then calculates an adjusted image distance by adding this perpendicular distance to the fixed focal length. The lens set is then moved until its distance to the image sensor matches this adjusted image distance, achieving autofocus.

Claim 7

Original Legal Text

7. The method according to claim 5 , wherein before the performing of the auto-focusing on the target object according to the second spatial data, the method further comprises: calculating third spatial coordinates corresponding to the second position through an image recognition algorithm; and correcting the second spatial coordinates according to the third spatial coordinates to acquire corrected second spatial coordinates.

Plain English Translation

Before performing the autofocus (as described in the autofocus method), the method refines the accuracy by using an image recognition algorithm to estimate a third set of 3D coordinates for the target's new position. It then corrects the previously calculated second spatial coordinates using these image recognition-based coordinates, resulting in corrected second spatial coordinates for improved accuracy.

Claim 8

Original Legal Text

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the correcting of the second spatial coordinates comprises: judging whether a distance between the third spatial coordinates and the second spatial coordinates is less than a preset correction threshold; and when the distance between the third spatial coordinates and the second spatial coordinates is less than the preset correction threshold, calculating a mean value of X-axis coordinate values in the third spatial coordinates and the second spatial coordinates as an X-axis coordinate value in the corrected second spatial coordinates, and calculating a mean value of Y-axis coordinate values in the third spatial coordinates and the second spatial coordinates as a Y-axis coordinate value in the corrected second spatial coordinates; and calculating a Z-axis coordinate value in the corrected second spatial coordinates according to the first straight-line distance, the X-axis coordinate value in the corrected second spatial coordinates, and the Y-axis coordinate value in the corrected second spatial coordinates.

Plain English Translation

To correct the second spatial coordinates (as described in the autofocus method), the method first checks if the distance between the image recognition-based third spatial coordinates and the calculated second spatial coordinates is below a predefined threshold. If it is, the X and Y coordinates of the corrected coordinates are calculated as the average of the X and Y coordinates from both the second and third spatial coordinates. The Z coordinate is then recalculated using the initial straight-line distance and the new, averaged X and Y coordinates, ensuring consistency in distance.

Claim 9

Original Legal Text

9. A device, comprising: a processor; and a memory for storing instructions executable by the processor; wherein the processor is configured to: after performing a manual focusing on a target object through receiving a user operation on the target object in a viewfinder of the device, acquire first spatial data of the target object; when detecting a change of contents of a view in the viewfinder, acquire position variation data of the target object; acquire second spatial data of the target object according to the first spatial data and the position variation data; and perform an auto-focusing on the target object according to the second spatial data; wherein, in acquiring the first spatial data of the target object, the processor is further configured to: calculate a first perpendicular distance from a focal point to an image sensor, wherein an image of the target object is formed on the image sensor when the manual focusing is finished; acquire first spatial coordinates of a first position on the image sensor where the image of the target object is located according to the first perpendicular distance, with the focal point as an origin of a three-dimensional rectangular coordinate system; and calculate first space vector angles of a first vector between the focal point and the first position.

Plain English Translation

An autofocusing device includes a processor and memory. The processor, after manual focus on a target in the viewfinder, acquires initial spatial data of the target. Upon detecting a view change, it acquires position variation data. Using both sets of data, it calculates second spatial data and then performs autofocus. To acquire the initial spatial data, it calculates the perpendicular distance from the focal point to the image sensor, gets 3D coordinates of the target's position on the sensor (relative to the focal point), and calculates vector angles between the focal point and that position.

Claim 10

Original Legal Text

10. The device according to claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to: acquire an image distance when the manual focusing is finished; and calculate a difference between the image distance and a fixed focal length as the first perpendicular distance from the focal point to the image sensor.

Plain English Translation

The autofocus device (as described above) calculates the perpendicular distance from the focal point to the image sensor by acquiring the image distance after manual focus. It then determines the difference between this image distance and the device's fixed focal length, using this difference as the perpendicular distance.

Claim 11

Original Legal Text

11. The device according to claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to: with a center of the viewfinder as an origin of a rectangular plane coordinate system, acquire first two-dimensional coordinates of the target object in the rectangular plane coordinate system, wherein the center of the viewfinder and the focal point are in a same normal direction; transform the first two-dimensional coordinates according to a preset scale to acquire second two-dimensional coordinates of the image of the target object on the image sensor; and determine the first spatial coordinates of the first position on the image sensor according to the second two-dimensional coordinates and the first perpendicular distance, wherein an X-axis coordinate value in the first spatial coordinates is an X-axis coordinate value in the second two-dimensional coordinates, a Y-axis coordinate value in the first spatial coordinates is a Y-axis coordinate value in the second two-dimensional coordinates, and a Z-axis coordinate value in the first spatial coordinates is the first perpendicular distance.

Plain English Translation

The autofocus device (as described above) acquires the initial 3D coordinates by first getting the target's 2D coordinates in the viewfinder, using the viewfinder's center as the origin. These 2D coordinates are scaled to match the image sensor. Then, it determines the 3D coordinates: X and Y values are taken from the scaled 2D coordinates, and the Z value is the perpendicular distance from the focal point to the image sensor.

Claim 12

Original Legal Text

12. The device according to claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to: judge whether the viewfinder moves according to acceleration data detected by an acceleration sensor; and when the viewfinder moves, acquire one or more vector angles of space variation detected through a direction sensor, as the position variation data.

Plain English Translation

The autofocus device (as described above) uses an acceleration sensor to detect viewfinder movement. If movement is detected, a direction sensor captures the angular changes (vector angles) of the movement, recording them as position variation data.

Claim 13

Original Legal Text

13. The device according to claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to: calculate a first straight-line distance from the focal point to the first position according to the first spatial coordinates; calculate one or more second space vector angles according to one or more of the first space vector angles and one or more of the vector angles of space variation, the one or more second space vector angles being one or more space vector angles of a second vector between the focal point and a second position, and the second position being a position of the image of the target object on the image sensor after the auto-focusing; and calculate one or more second spatial coordinates of the second position according to the first straight-line distance and the one or more second space vector angles.

Plain English Translation

The autofocus device (as described above) calculates the straight-line distance from the focal point to the target's initial position using the initial 3D coordinates. Then, using the initial vector angles and the angular changes detected by the direction sensor, the device calculates new vector angles. Finally, it calculates the new 3D coordinates of the target using the initial straight-line distance and the new vector angles.

Claim 14

Original Legal Text

14. The device according to 13 , wherein the processor is further configured to: acquire a second perpendicular distance from the focal point to the second position according to the one or more second spatial coordinates, wherein the second perpendicular distance is a Z-axis coordinate value in the one or more second spatial coordinates; calculate a sum of the second perpendicular distance and a fixed focal length as an adjusted image distance; and move a lens set until a distance from the lens set to the image sensor is equal to the adjusted image distance.

Plain English Translation

The autofocus device (as described above) acquires the Z-axis coordinate from the new 3D coordinates, representing the perpendicular distance from the focal point to the new target position. It calculates an adjusted image distance by adding this perpendicular distance to the fixed focal length. Then it moves the lens until its distance to the image sensor equals this adjusted distance, achieving autofocus.

Claim 15

Original Legal Text

15. The device according to claim 13 , wherein before the performing of the auto-focusing on the target object according to the second spatial data, the processor is further configured to: calculate third spatial coordinates corresponding to the second position through an image recognition algorithm; and correct the second spatial coordinates according to the third spatial coordinates to acquire corrected second spatial coordinates.

Plain English Translation

The autofocus device (as described above) uses an image recognition algorithm to estimate a third set of 3D coordinates for the target's new position. It then corrects the calculated second spatial coordinates using these image recognition-based coordinates, resulting in corrected second spatial coordinates.

Claim 16

Original Legal Text

16. The device according to claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to: judge whether a distance between the third spatial coordinates and the second spatial coordinates is less than a preset correction threshold; when the distance between the third spatial coordinates and the second spatial coordinates is less than the preset correction threshold, calculate a mean value of X-axis coordinate values in the third spatial coordinates and the second spatial coordinates as an X-axis coordinate value in the corrected second spatial coordinates, calculate a mean value of Y-axis coordinate values in the third spatial coordinates and the second spatial coordinates as a Y-axis coordinate value in the corrected second spatial coordinates; and calculate a Z-axis coordinate value in the corrected second spatial coordinates according to the first straight-line distance, the X-axis coordinate value in the corrected second spatial coordinates, and the Y-axis coordinate value in the corrected second spatial coordinates.

Plain English Translation

The autofocus device (as described above) checks if the distance between the image recognition-based third spatial coordinates and the calculated second spatial coordinates is below a threshold. If so, the X and Y coordinates of the corrected coordinates are calculated as the average of the X and Y coordinates from both sets. The Z coordinate is then recalculated using the initial straight-line distance and the new, averaged X and Y coordinates.

Claim 17

Original Legal Text

17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored therein that, when executed by a processor in a device, cause the device to perform an auto-focusing method, the method comprising: after performing a manual focusing on a target object through receiving a user operation on the target object in a viewfinder of the device, acquiring first spatial data of the target object; when detecting a change of contents of a view in the viewfinder, acquiring position variation data of the target object; acquiring second spatial data of the target object according to the first spatial data and the position variation data; and performing an auto-focusing on the target object according to the second spatial data; wherein the acquiring of the first spatial data of the target object includes: calculating a first perpendicular distance from a focal point to an image sensor, wherein an image of the target object is formed on the image sensor when the manual focusing is finished; acquiring first spatial coordinates of a first position on the image sensor where the image of the target object is located according to the first perpendicular distance, with the focal point as an origin of a three-dimensional rectangular coordinate system; and calculating first space vector angles of a first vector between the focal point and the first position.

Plain English Translation

A computer-readable storage medium stores instructions that, when executed, cause a device to perform an autofocus method. This method starts after manual focus, acquiring initial spatial data of the target. If the view changes, it acquires position variation data. Second spatial data is calculated, and autofocus is performed. The initial spatial data acquisition involves calculating the perpendicular distance from the focal point to the image sensor, acquiring 3D coordinates of the target's location on the image sensor relative to the focal point, and calculating the angles of the vector between the focal point and that location.

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Patent Metadata

Filing Date

July 27, 2015

Publication Date

August 8, 2017

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